Leg assembly for furniture



July 15, 1952 D. s. HAVEN 2,603,545

LEG ASSEMBLY FOR FURNITURE Filed Jan. 26, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

DAVID S. HAVEN FIG. 3. BY

' bolted securement of the Patented July 15, 1952 7 LEG ASSEMBLX FORIURNITURE' DavidJS. Harem-Richmond Heights, :Mm, assignor to Meier &.'Pohlmann"Fui-nitune ,Gompany St. L Louis-,Mm. anormra ion ofzMissquri v a nplica ionianuary .26 5.1 Se ialN 2. .0 1

"This invention relates to improvements-inle assemblies for furniture, and more particularly to an improved leg-locating and attachment agency for'the assembly of legs to various-articles-of furniture, such :as tables, chairs and-the like.

-I nthe;manufac ture of tab1es:and,certain other articles of furniture, it'has long been a conventionalpractice-to utilize a so-called corner'block in conjunction with the aprons or rails of a table. 7 "Such corner block is conventionally glued; or-nailed into place, and usually coacts-withthe upper; end of the leg for securement thereof in proper location and 'angularity with respect to the horizontal supporting surface 'thereabove, such as,a tabletop. According tofsuchprevailin g practice. the corner block mustbe separately secured to the aprons, and the leg in turnsecured to thecorner block and sometimes also to the' aprons, requiring several separate assembly operations and the separate cutting and handling of an element now found unnecessary. The elimination of such older parts and assembly steps by present-improvements, results in a reduction-in number of elements to be assembled, cut, and stocked. It is accordingly a major objective of the present improvements to eliminate the corher-blocks prevalently used in the cornering reglons of the aprons 'or rails, to obviate the severalcost items and assembly expense incident thereto, and at the ;same time materially enhancijng the rigidity of the article of furniture.

Further objects and advantages of the present/improvements include the formation of leglocating recesses as integral parts of-the rail or apron elements of a table, for example.

Still another-and important object of the present invention is found in an improved location and arrangement of bias-cut leg-locating seats on theaprons, and an improved manner 'of' 7 leg elements to the partsof the table. I

A still-further" and highly important objective realized in the present subject matter, arises from the greatly improvedknock-down facilities a-fiorded by the novel mode or -assembly; for example, lesslikelihood of damage in transit, and "greater certainty of proper erection of the table or the like with the legs accuratelylocated and rigidly assembled.

- The-foregoing and still further objectives and advantages will more clearly appear from the following detailed-description of a currently;pre-' ferredembodiment, particularly when reference is-madeto the accompanyingdrawingz inwhichr" a :2 V Fig. -'1' is --a fragmentary partly-insection, -of--acorner-portion of aitable, the'leg -assembliesof which -embodypresentdme movements;-

Fig. '2 is 1 a bottom'plan view ofthestructuteof Fig; las yieWedalongIIine 2-2 and =F'ig- =3 -is a -plan viewbf anendportiori of one of -the end aprons showing formation thereof in.

embodiment of the present improvements;

Referring; now by characters of reference-to the drawing, the improvements wil1 be-=described by reference to -atable and leg -assembly-but without limitation-thereto; since the same' or vintuallythe same principles; of construction are equally applicable to -certain typesof-chairs-and other "furniture-items. "There is shown :by the drawing a "table top TT-whi'ch maybe of anysuitable shape, form or design, and which will in most cases constitute'a substantially horizontal primary support for the burden imposed thereon. The table top as such =is or may be of conventional or anydesired construction, usually a planar element-of wood.

Arranged in the 'form of a substantially rectan ular frame structure immediately beneath the table 'top'TT, are four aprons or rails the endaprons being indicated at 1-0 and the side apronsat l-l. Each of these aprons is shown asprovided-with a series of countersunk screw recesses l-Z for the reception'of-attachment screws 1 t3; by which the rails are edgewise secured and bear a. depending relation to the top TT. :forming the, primary support therefor. It is desirable thatithe cornering portions of each end apron and each side apron, be provided with a tongueand-slot form of interfitting joint such as shown by Fig. 2 and in-which-the slot is indicated at I4 and the tongue at l5.

In the example shown, each end apron i0 ormedr n a home egion sligh ly p m the corner apex of theadjacent aprons, "to-pro vide a. pair. of opposed,;parallel, oblique faces one of which shown at 16 is on the outside, 'and another such face I! located on the inside of each end of each apron 10. These obligue faces;

side *elevational: view-.-

such extension being indicated at 22 and provided at its outer end with an oblique face 23 which, as shown, is disposed about at a right angle to each of the parallel faces I6, I! on the companion cornering apron I0. Each of the oblique faces 16 and i1 partly defines a V-shape notch, that on the outside of each corner region of apron I being indicated at 24, and the notch lying opposite the first said recess being indicated at 25.

With this arrangement, it is a matter of considerable preference that the aprons l0 and H each be located somewhat inwardly of the outerwill be separately fully formed and finished as will the side and end aprons or rails and I I, it being noted that by the use of automatic equipment the apron elements will be shaped and smoothed preferably in continuous production operations as a part of which there are formed in and on the described regions of the aprons, the oblique-faces I6, I! and the notches 24 and 25, as well 'as the oblique end face 23 on each extension of the side aprons. Drilling of the passages or bores 21 for the hanger bolts in each 7 of. the four locations therefor may be done in most margins of the furniture top 'TT, particu larly so in case the leg elements, usuallyv four in number and designated generally at L, are located externally of the cornering aprons as shown.

The contouring or design of the several leg' elements is a matter of choice consistent with structural requirements and specific design of the article offurniture with which they are used. Particular'reference should, however, be made to the. upper end portion of each of the legs L, shown as being of a generally rectangular cross section but with a rounded outer marginalportion. The

serves accurately to locate the leg prior to as well as after final assembly thereof to the table. It

has beenfound conducive to snugness of assembly to, form the notch 24 on slightly less thana true 90 degree angle, say 8789, so that awedging action on the leg results when bolted into assembly. While any suitable assembly hardware may beutilized, it isa preference, to assure a sturdyand rigid attachment of the legsito the aprons, that metal hanger bolts be employed.

' Such items of hardware are well known, and constitute per se no partof the present improvements apart from the combination. The hanger bolt illustrated includes a lag end HBL which is threaded in ahorizontal direction along the major transverse axis of each leg L, and is preferably installed in the leg priorto shipment. The opposite end ofthe hanger bolt is machine screw threaded so as to accept a nut N overlying a washer W, the washer bearing againstthe oblique face ll which is opposite to but in paired relation with the oblique face It earlier described. Each hanger bolt HE is of a length to. extend through the bore 2!, as .will be apparent from the drawing, and a pairoffbolts HB are preferred in each corner.

It-is desirable to maintain asked relationf 'of the apron elements prior attachmentthereof to the'top TT, and for this purpose there isprovidedin each corner region a conventional cor rugated fastener'or nail. Although optional, it'

has in some cases been found conducive to added legrigidity in assembly, to provide a fastening nail or the like, indicated at 39, driven at an acute angle through-the'u pper leg, axially into the extensionof theside rail. r

Themannerpf assembly I in use. of I the structure heretofore described, are thought to have become apparent'from the fore 'going'detail of description, butit 'm'ay be note'd' for completeness that, in keepin'g'with, usual pro- 11491 1 4 .PWQ QGJh JW E PO T7 ass ssment and theiadvantage's accordance with conventional practice.

7 Assuming completion of the table top TT the aprons are assembled in final relative relation through interfitting of the tongues l5 and the companion grooves, l4 therefor, temporary securement of these elements in each corner region being effected by a corrugated nail as earlier mentioned. The aprons will have been provided with screw recesses l2, The four aprons arranged substantially as a rectangular enclosure, may now be disposed on the lower face of thetable top and assembled thereto as by screws I3.. The

hanger bolts are installed in the legs, in a sub stantially horizontal position and threaded edgelegs L withits upper corner region in one of the notchesZA, and with the hanger bolts HB ex tended through the adjacent bores 2i therefor.

Application of the washer and'nut N to eachfof' the hanger bolts, and a tight take-up of the nuts; will complete the" assembly of the legs b'utffor driving of the nail or screw 30, if and when utilized. I Y

, It will have appeared that the snug, interfitting relation between the upper leg portion and the locating notch 26 therefor will conduce to a high degree of stability of the legs and sturdiness of the supported structure.

The arrangement described fully obviates any need for the usual corner braces and the like and enables the corner assembly to be completed by utitlizing in a small, light weight unit,

nomor e than a single holding element such as the hanger bolt, in each corner region, and utilizing a pair or more of the bolts HBdn each corner of a larger or heavier article such as a table of some Weight or size. v

, Although the invention has been described by particularized reference to the parts and arrangement of a currently preferred embodiments the detail of description should be understood solelylin an illustrative rather than in any limiting sense, numerous variants being possible with beyond theenclosure formed by the aprons one of the aprons in each corner region thereof la eirig recessed-"to provide a: pair of \l -shapednotches ei-dp si g si e j h lf a n and assess 5 horizontally between said notches to receive one or more hanger bolts, a leg having one of its edge portions conforming to and snugly wedged into one of the paired notches in a manner to position the leg angularly with respect to the apron, one or more hanger bolts extending through the apertured portion of the notched apron between the notches, thence substantially horizontally into an upper portion of the adjacent leg, a nut in the other notch of the pair, for engaging each hanger bolt, the cornering region of the aprons being formed to provide a tongue and slot connection, and the adjacent apron extension being formed with, an oblique face adapted to abut and position a side face portion of the upper end of the adjacent leg, and a holding element extending through the leg substantially along the axis of the adjacent apron extension. 2

2. In an article of furniture having a flat supporting top and legs therebelow, a substantially rectangular arrangement of aprons edgewise attached beneath the supporting top and somewhat inwardly of the margins thereof, certain of said aprons being extended endwise exteriorly beyond the enclosure formed by the aprons, one of the aprons in each corner region thereof being recessed to provide a V-shaped notch on one side of the apron, the last said notched apron being formed to provide an oblique seat opposite and parallel to one face of the V-shaped notch, said notched apron being apertured horizontally between said seat and said opposite and parallel notch face to receive one or more bolts, a leg having one of its edge portions conforming to and snugly wedged into the V-shaped notch in a manner to position the leg angularly with respect to the apron, one or more bolts extending through the apertured portion of the notchedapron between the oblique seat and said parallel notch face, thence substantially horizontally into an upper portion of the adjacent leg, a nut positioning on said oblique seat for engagement with each bolt, the cornering region of the aprons being securely attached together, and the adjacent apron extension being formed. with an oblique face adapted to abut and position a side face portion of the upper end of the adjacent leg, and a holding element extending through the leg substantially along the axis of the adjacent apron extension.

DAVID S. HAVEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Shannon Dec. 8, 1942 

